Large crowd shows up to support Vallejo Admirals

Shane O'Halloran and Dennis Weber, from right, staff the grill from which they've cooked more than 200 hamburgers and hot dogs each during the sold-out 'tailgate party' at the Relay Club Friday evening sponsored by Vallejo businessmen in support of the Vallejo Admirals baseball team.

The organizers of Friday's large, community "tailgate party" for the Vallejo Admirals professional baseball team said they'd hoped to generate a crowd for the game scheduled for afterward, and they did. The stands at Wilson Park were as full at Friday's after-party game as they've been in some time.

Organizers said their hope was not only to get people out to the games, but to help the players out monetarily.

Organizer Curtis Lafferty, owner/broker of Century 21 Schutjer Realty, said some 400 advance tickets were sold to Friday's event at the Relay Club, which included grilled burgers, hot dogs and fixings, along with admission to the ballpark across the street for the game.

"There are about 100 more people than the advance tickets sold," organizer Mike Pendergast said. The funds raised from ticket sales is going directly to the players in the form of gift cards, organizers said.

"It's better than we expected," Pendergast said. "Each player will get a $60 Target gift card, and there are 22 players."

Proceeds from a 50/50 raffle will go to the Admirals organization, Pendergast and Lafferty said.

"The organization should get at least $2,500," Pendergast added.

Local broadcaster, Ozcat Radio owner David Martin said he was at Friday's event to show his support for the team.

"I enjoy the team, and I like parties and the whole tailgate celebration," he said. "I think it's fantastic that our business community is supporting this positive thing for Vallejo."

That was the consensus of opinion Friday.

"It's a great, family event, having a baseball team, and like everything, it starts small and grows bigger and bigger," said Ken Ingersoll, owner of Gracie's Family Barbecue who donated some of the event's food. "It's not just about the money; it's about support. You see the cohesion that the city shows at events like this. They may not agree on all the issues, but they agree on Vallejo."

Vallejo resident Angela Madison said she and her husband Wayne came out Friday because they like having a professional baseball team in town.

"I want to support Vallejo and it's awesome that we have our own professional baseball team and we want it to stay in town," she said.

"I think it's wonderful seeing hundreds of people who love baseball and want to keep seeing baseball in Vallejo," professional bass player and Empress Theatre General Manager Don Bassey said.

Joe Padilla of American Canyon said he, too loves having baseball in Vallejo and considers the Admirals his team.

"I still support Vallejo, and this is great for the community," he said.

Relay owner Moe Griggs said he was impressed by everyone's effort to pull off the event.

"It's awesome, it's really the community pulling together and supporting the Admirals," he said. "We had a lot of volunteers from all over. We couldn't have done it on our own."

Alvin and Cheryl Smith of Vallejo also attended Friday's event — for the food and the game, they said.

The players, who were also at the pre-game party, said they appreciated the turnout.

"It's a great experience," said relief pitcher Ian Gray, 26, who came to Vallejo from Folsom. "The most you can ask is to be supported by the community, and it's great to have them behind us."

Admirals pitcher Dennis Neal, 24, of San Leandro said, "it's incredible the way the town is rallying around us. We're very thankful."

The Admirals finish out the regular season Saturday and Sunday at Wilson Park against the San Rafael Pacifics. Game times are 5 and 1 p.m., respectively.